Matthew Squires.
Camera IconMatthew Squires. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Matthew clocks up 1000 voluntary hours

Staff ReporterCanning Gazette

The 28-year-old Melville sub-branch divisional manager was recognised at the St John Ambulance WA Event Health Services annual awards for contributing more than 1000 voluntary hours to his role in 2012.

He is so dedicated to the cause that he was unavailable to accept his award at the official ceremony as he was volunteering at a St John cadet camp.

And the community-|minded volunteer expects to clock up at least the same amount of hours for 2013.

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The accountant and Winthrop Baptist College graduate began volunteering a decade ago after seeing St John volunteers at a concert he attended at Point Walter as a teenager.

He spent his spare time learning the ropes during his university study and even managed to encourage a couple of fellow students to get involved in the worthy cause.

Some of the highlights of his time have included working at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, backstage at large music events, in bushfire emergencies and helping revive an overdose patient at a Belmont service station.

St John chief executive Tony Ahern said volunteers played a vital role in WA and had set a superb example with their tireless efforts.

‘In 2012-13 our event volunteers attended 1691 events and collectively contributed almost 51,000 duty hours,’ he said.

‘Across St John we have more than 4500 volunteers and their contribution is enormous; they donate some three million hours to the community every year.’